17 recruits graduate as firefighters in NC

By Richard Gould
The Hickory Daily Record

HICKORY, N.C. — It was standing room only at Highland Recreation Center for the graduation ceremony for Hickory's newest 17 firefighters Wednesday.

The recruits were hired when a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant funded by the Department of Homeland Security provided the money to pay for a second ladder company in Hickory. The ladder company's 12 positions were filled by veteran firefighters and 17 recruits were hired to fill the positions made vacant by transfers and retirements.

The terms of the grant required the department to staff the positions with fully trained firefighters within two years of the receipt of the award. The Hickory Department completed the training 140 days after getting the grant.

Lucas Carter had been elected president and spokesman of his rookie class and addressed the crowd to share the recruits' perspective on their training.

"We learned we were going to have to band together to survive rookie school," he said. "The days were hot and the conditions were tough, but we came together as a team and that's what firefighting is all about."

Carter and his class honored those who'd trained them to become firefighters by presenting signed pictures of the graduating class and anecdotes about what they'd learned over their four months of training.

"I'm proud to be a part of this organization because of the people in it and the bond they share and the support they give," he said.

Deputy Chief George Byers charged the graduating class to honor the department's mission.

"Your mission is to prevent fires, save lives and protect property," he said.

Each new firefighter had his badge pinned to his shirt by a family member or spouse. Then the class turned to face the crowd, introduced as Hickory's newest firefighters.

This is the second largest class of recruits in the HFD's history. Catawba Valley Community College assisted in their training.

"Most of you probably know what an asset CVCC is to our community -- we certainly do," said Deputy Fire Chief Fred Hollar.

CVCC's executive director of the Public Safety Innovation Center Tim Chewning, worked with the Hickory Fire Department to address and coordinate their training needs in accordance with National Fire Protection Association standards.

The classroom work was done at the Hickory Fire Station and much of the practical training took place at CVCC's simulation house in Hickory. During their days off Hickory firefighters who are also certified instructors through CVCC taught the recruits.

"We tried to make this the least intrusive and least expensive training possible for them," Chewning said.

It took 14,960 man-hours to train the recruits. Their addition to the department brought the total number of Hickory Fire Department employees to 137, including administrative and clerical staff.

There are 117 firefighters working in shifts in the city's seven fire stations.